Pipe-wrench



J. E. LENHOLT.

PIPE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9| 1918.

1 ,328,744. Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. LENI-IOLT, IJEETE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T CHARLES R. TAINTER, 0F GUILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

PIPE-WRENCH.

Application filed August 9, 1918.

' wrenches, and its object is to provide a pipe the salient features of the invention wrench. of the chain type, of particularly efficient construction and of few and simple parts not liable to get out of order, and in case of breakage, of easy repair. v

In accordance with the invention there is provided a handle member termlnating in agripping end with a sloping series of teeth extending from oneside of the handle memher in a gentle curve toward -the other side, meeting the line of the other side at an acute angle and constituting a jaw against which the pipe may be gripped by a length of chain fast at one end to the handle member close to the basic end oil the jaw. The handle and toothed jaw may be made in one piece and on the side of the jaw toward the manipulating part .of the handle there 18 provided a box or shell through which there is slidable a threaded shank having one end formed into a claw to be engaged b the chain. The threaded shank isjprovide with a nut or threaded sleeve whereby the effective length of the chain may bereadlly adjusted. v

The invention will be best understood from a'consideration of'the following de tailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification with theunderstanding,

however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing T V V I Figure l is aside elevation of a chain wrench embodying the invention.

Fig. 2is a front elevation of the structure shown iniFig 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a section on the line 4- 1: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the Specification of Letterslatent. Patented Jan, 20, 1920,

Serial No. 249,168.

structureshown in Fig. 1, as viewed from the right, the chain being broken away on both sides ofthe cla-w. j Referring to the drawing, there is shown a handle memberrl with a manipulating end 2 of convenient'shape for handling, which shape may follow the customary form of chain wrenches. At one end the handle member 1 is formed into a jaw 3, which jaw may be of generally rectangular shape in cross section and of somewhat greater width and thickness than the manipulating end 2. The extremity of the jaw?) is provided with a curved series of gripping teeth 4, the curvature starting in the line of the length of the jaw at one face of the latter and proceeding in an arc struck from a center outside of the jaw 3 and ultimately merging into the other side or edge of the jaw at an acute angle thereto, the series of teeth being therefore convexly curved. The extremit of the jaw on the side remote from the teet terminates in a shortcurved portion 5 meeting the toothed'portion of the jaw in close relation to that edge of the jaw remote from the teeth. At the base of the tooth portion of the jaw the handle is provided with a recess or slot (i traversed by a bolt 7 and entered by one end link of achain 8, said chain being made up of alternating ringshaped and flat 'links 9 and 10 respectively. It is to be understood, however, that while it is preferred to use a chain of alternating ring-shaped and flat links, this does not preclude the use of other types of chains. The form of chain shown in the drawing has been found particularly eflicient in practice. Secured to the handle 1 at that end of the jaw remote from the teeth 4 is a box or shell'll fastened by rivets 12 or in any other suitable manner, or the box or shell may be actually or effectively integral with the handle as is'the custom in the manufacture a shank 13 terminating at one end in an outstanding claw 14 and at th'eother end in a threaded continuation 15 to which latter there is applied a nut or threaded sleeve 16. The shank 13 may be of rectangular cross section so as to fit flat against the corresponding edge of the head 3 which is also made flat, thus preventing the claw shank,

' and claw, from turning about its longitudina] aXis. The claw 14L has closely adjacent jaw suitably shaped, as shown at 17 in Figs. 3, a and 5, to receive and hold links of the chain 8 when placed between the jaws.

When it is desired to grip and turn a pipe, such as indicated at 18 in Figs. 1 to 4, the claw 1a is sufiicientlyloosened by unscrewing the nut or sleeve 16 and the toothed portion a of the jaw 3 is placed against one side of the pipe with the chain 8 about the pipe on the side thereof away from the toothed portion of the jaw and the chain is then carried over and against the end 5 ot the jaw and a link is introduced into the claw 11, after which the chain is tightened to a suitable extent by suitably screwing up the nut or sleeve 16. Now, upon manipulating the handle end ol the wrench in a clockwise direction in the showing of Fig. 1, the jaw teeth i i are caused to roll on the pipe tightening the latter against the chain 5 where embracing the pipe. The cam action on the pipe of the convexly curved series of. teeth in opposition to the holding action of the chain causes the teeth to bind tightly against the pipe and the latter is therefore turned in the desired direction, the grip of the wrench on the pipe increasing with the force applied to the wrench.

It will be noted upon reference to Fi s. 1 and 3 of the drawing, that one of the links is in contact with the end of the handle, said link riding over the curved portion This relieves the strain on the claws, it being shown in actual practice that by this arrangement, with the chain touching the end of the handle, the claws will stand greater strain without givingaway, and the tendency of the chain to slip on the pipe is avoided.

What is claimed is 2- 1. A chain wrench comprising an elongated handle member formed at one end with a'toothed jaw having a curved series of teeth extending lengthwise of thehandle member along one edge, achain passed around and in contact with the end of the handle member, means for rigidly fastening one end of the chain to the iandle member beyond the, teeth, a longitudinally mor able shank provided with an outstanding claw for engagement by the free end oft-he chain, means for slidably connecting the shank and handle member together, and

means" for adjusting the shank and claw longitudinally onthe handle member, the chain having, one of its links in contact with theflend of the handle when grasping Wbrk- 2. A chain wrench comprising an elongated handle member formed at one end with a toothed jaw having a curved series of teeth extending lengthwise of the handle member along one edge, the opposite edge meeting the teeth at the end of the handle member in a short curved portion, a chain passed around and in contact with the read of the handle member, and adapted to ride over the curvedp'ortion with one of its links engaged with the end of the handle member, means for rigidly fastening one en dl of the chain to the handle member beyond the teeth, a longitudinally movable shank provided with means for detachably engaging the free endoft-hechain, means for slidably connectingtheshank and hairdle member to ether, and meansffor adjusting the shank ong'itu'dinally on the handle member. i

3. A chain pipe wrenehcomprising anhandle member terminating at one end, in a.

toothed jaw provided witlra convexly curved series of teeth extending lengthwiseof the jaw from one edge thereof toward the. other, a box or shell on the handle member "projecting ltroni the side thereof remote from the toothed portion of the. j aw, a clawhaving a shank extending througlrthe box or shell and I provided with a threaded portion and 'a nut engaging the threaded portion, and a chainfse'c'ured fat oneiend to thejaw adjacent to the basic. portion of ,these riesof teeth and of alengthto be passed aboutthe jaw and engagev the claw while encircling a pipe or the like ,engaged hy thejaw.

4. A chain pipe '-rench .comprismga handle member with a jaw at onejend,1a chain secured at one end directly to tlie hanidle member adjacent "to the jaw, and a'claw on the otherqside offlthefhandle member for receiving, andiholdingtheother e aperti'on o f'the chain, said chain comprising a series of alternate solid ,flat links and'ring shaped links, with the flat links arrangedftor edge engagement the work.

Achain p pe wrench comprising a handle witlr a fixed jaw at enema, 'fa' chain.

'fast at one end to the handle inoperative relation tothe jaw, and a claw on the, side, of the handle remote .fromthe jaw to receive the chain, said. chain being composedof .a

series of alternately arrangedflat,platelinks and ringeshape'd' links, withjthe ring-fs'liaped links connecting the platelinks] and holding them in edge engagement withftl' e work.

In testimony, that I Cl im the foregoing as my own, I have hereto an d ysig a.

ture.

JOHN E. narionrf 

